Alexa Plus is Amazon’s newest Prime benefit!
Amazon just unveiled Alexa+, an upgraded version of its voice assistant created to be a more conversational, personalized, and capable form of AI. However, concerns about cost, privacy, and the actual value of these upgrades have some Prime members feeling a little underwhelmed, unsettled, or some of both.
Thanks to its large language model training, Alexa+ can now understand partially-formed thoughts, conversational language, and complex ideas. It’s designed to be easier to talk to, so users can enjoy more natural interactions with their Alexa-enabled devices.
The new Alexa+ will be more personalized, too. It can now remember details like your shopping habits, favorite artists, dietary restrictions, and other preferences. Of course, Amazon will now have even more data about you, which may be a potential concern for privacy-conscious users.
Alexa+ will also use generative AI to “take action,” meaning it can complete more complex tasks like booking appointments, ordering groceries, and reminding you about upcoming events. These actions are made possible by connecting with tens of thousands of other devices and third-party services like OpenTable, Grubhub, and Ticketmaster.
On the one hand, this upgrade will finally advance Alexa’s skillset after remaining fairly stagnant since its inception. On the other hand, these advances have many Prime members wondering if they really want their Alexa to get “nosier,” take more initiative, and complete tasks with less supervision.
The cost of Alexa+ is included in your Amazon Prime subscription, but it’s $19.99 for non-Prime members. It will be rolling out in waves, with early access granted to those with an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21. If you have one of those devices, you can request early access here.
How do you feel about the new Alexa+? Are these advancements something you’re eager to try? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
